A different type of British horror

Rating: Null/10 (13 October 2005)

The storyline is about the escape of a virus, 'Rage' that causes the infected to become mad with rage and hungry for blood. 28 days after the outbreak in London, the whole of Britain and the world is dead or infected, leaving behind a blood thirsty population and a only a few solitary normal people.
This may sound like a film that you may have already seen, but the touch of art used by Danny Boyle allows the film to stand out, achieving what many others haven't managed to do. '28 Days Later' does not focus on the extensive use of special effects and gory actions scenes between the normal and infected. Instead the focus is on how people react and deal with the situation mentally. The main characters drive the story and sympathy for them is created throughout the film. This is unlike many horror films where the audience is unable to connect with the characters, as they dive straight in to the action and gore.
Throughout the film there is a sense of sadness, emptiness and helplessness. The long shots of a desolate London with a soundtrack devoid of sound will give you the creeps, as this is something that we never wish to witness, yet in the back of our minds we know is not impossible.
There are criticisms, and it can be said that the focus on the goings on at the military base takes up too much of the storyline. It is relevant when thinking about animal instinct, survival of the fittest and human reproduction, however, it is dragged on for much longer than needed. Overall, this British film is a brilliant modern piece of horror and is definitely worth going to see if you want to be thrilled.